Foley has a soft spot for Rider Nation

Ricky Foley could easily dust off his book of cliches and tell the world — maybe even with a straight face — that returning to Mosaic Stadium will be “just another game.” But that wouldn’t be his style.

REGINA — Ricky Foley could easily dust off his book of cliches and tell the world — maybe even with a straight face — that returning to Mosaic Stadium will be “just another game.”

But that wouldn’t be his style.

The outspoken defensive end — not one to sugarcoat — admits to some mixed emotions about Sunday’s clash with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who traded him to the Toronto Argonauts in the off-season for linebacker Shea Emry.

“I’m sure there will be a whirlwind of emotions but I kind of don’t let that affect me until game time when we come out of that tunnel,” offered Foley, who helped the Riders win the 2013 Grey Cup in Regina. “Once you come out of the tunnel, that’s when you let everything go and that’s when you start feeling all the fire and the emotion. I think it’s going to be special but I don’t want to think too much about the pre-game. I’m trying to focus more on the game. I want to play well for my new team.”

Despite a relatively short stay in Regina, the veteran pass rusher was one of the team’s most popular players, not to mention a quote machine for the local media.

More importantly, Foley was a respected leader and a prolific performer, recording 20 sacks over his two seasons, including a career-high 12 in 2014 when he was named the team’s top Canadian.

Foley was also vocal about his desire to stay in Regina, a fact which could spare him from the infamous VIP treatment that’s typically reserved for ex-Riders at Mosaic Stadium.

“I’ve heard the stories,” he said with a laugh. “Obviously it’s a very passionate fan base but when guys sign (elsewhere) as free agents and leave the Roughriders on their own accord, that’s when they kind of razz them. It’s no secret that I didn’t want to leave. Obviously I signed a new contract there in February. It wasn’t my choice to leave Saskatchewan. Hopefully I don’t get too many boos but, if I do, I understand it. I’m the enemy now.”

Foley admits it’ll be tough to wrap his head around the idea of treating old friends like enemies, especially since he has maintained a long-distance relationship with many of them. The 10-year CFL vet also went out of his way to praise GM Brendan Taman for the respectful manner in which he handled the trade.

However, Foley’s soft spot for the guys in green shouldn’t be interpreted as a weakness.

“During the off-season when the schedule came out I definitely had it circled, I guess you could say,” said Foley, 33. “Anybody who says that’s not true, they’re either lying or they’re scared to tell the truth.

“(Taman) is just trying to make his team better and trying to win. I respect him for that. But at the same time there’s always going to be that competitor in you that feels (like saying): ‘You thought your team was going to be better off without me.’

“It’s a tough business with tough decisions but of course I’m going to have a chip on my shoulder.”

Foley’s mindset should benefit the Argos, with whom he spent three seasons — winning a Grey Cup in 2012 — before coming to Saskatchewan.

Despite his history with the team — and the fact that he grew up on a farm near the city — Foley still needed some time to find his footing in Toronto.

“I can’t lie, I was a little apprehensive about it, leaving a great organization and leaving a great locker-room (in Saskatchewan),” Foley said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be done out there in Saskatchewan. That’s the model franchise. Coming back here, you never know. There’s only a few guys left from the core of the 2012 team when I was here.

“There were moments where I was like, ‘What am I getting myself into?’ But — I’m not just saying it to say the right thing — this team is awesome. I couldn’t be happier. I enjoy coming to work every day. It’s an enthusiastic group, a young group. We have a good thing going on here.”

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